The current phase of political talks in Belfast has ended after unionist
hardliners in the DUP rejected measures to increase recognition for the
Irish language in the north of Ireland.

The latest crash in the political process came despite fresh enthusiasm
earlier this week with the arrival into Belfast of the British Prime
Minister Theresa May and the 26 County Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The talks
participants and the two governments had again sought to inject momentum
into the efforts to restore power-sharing in the north of Ireland, which
have now collapsed six times in the last thirteen months.

DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose party holds the balance of power at
Westminster, today said there is “no prospect” of an agreement to
restore power-sharing and admitted there are still “serious and
significant differences” between her party and Sinn Fein. She called on
her Tory colleagues to reassert full direct control over the north of
Ireland.

The latest phase of the process began over three weeks ago and had been
reported to be moving steadily towards a deal across a range of issues.
However, Ms Foster has now described the negotiations as “unsuccessful”.
She said the DUP and Sinn Fein had been unable to reach agreement on a
long-delayed promised Irish Language Act, which would have enshrined the
rights of Irish langage speakers in law.

The 2006 St Andrews Agreements included an Irish Language Act to give
legal status to Irish, which should have paved the way for greater use
of Irish on street signs and in public bodies. However, that legislation
was frustrated when the DUP repeatedly blocked it at the Stormont
Assembly in Belfast.

The current crisis began in January 2017 with the resignation of Sinn
Fein’s late Deputy First Minster at Stormont, Martin McGuinness. He quit
in response to still unresolved allegations of corruption against Ms
Foster and her party. The integrity of the political institutions set up
under the peace process were then called into question, as well as the
DUP’s commitment to the implementation of equality and civil rights
measures, including an Irish Language Act.

There had been high hopes in certain circles that a deal to include an
Irish Language Act could be reached this week. Monday saw a familiar
high-profile effort to recreate the ‘hothouse atmosphere’ and ‘media
circus’ beloved by the two governments and main television networks.

Speaking in Belfast, Theresa May urged the North’s political leaders to
make “one final push”. With public pressure building for a resolution,
Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy urged the “DUP need to make up their mind up
about whether they are up for a deal or not”.

However, Arlene Foster yesterday condemned the involvement of the
British Prime Minister as a “distraction” and this evening, the DUP’s
powerful ‘backwoodsmen’ were again claiming credit for vetoing a measure
they fear could increase the visibility of the Irish language in their
areas.

Ms Foster said: “Despite our best efforts, serious and significant gaps
remain between ourselves and Sinn Fein especially on the issue of the
Irish language.

“I have made it consistently clear that unionists will not countenance a
stand-alone or free standing Irish Language Act. Sinn Fein’s insistence
on a stand-alone Irish Language Act means that we have reached an
impasse.”

She called for all powers of government in the north of Ireland to be
returned to London.

“It is now incumbent upon Her Majesty’s Government to set a budget and
start making policy decisions about our schools, hospitals and
infrastructure,” she said. “Important decisions impacting on everyone in
Northern Ireland have been sitting in limbo for too long.”

In a brief statement to the media, the British Direct Ruler in Ireland,
Karen Bradley, claimed “a basis for accommodation still exists”.

In a tweet, the 26 County Foreign Minister said he was “very
disappointed” by the DUP statement. “NI needs a Govt,” he said. “As
co-guarantors of Good Friday Agreement, the UK and Irish governments
have an obligation to uphold and protect the letter and spirit of that
Agreement. We will need to reflect in the coming days on how best to do
that.”

In a statement this evening, Sinn Fein’s new Deputy Leader, Michelle
O’Neill, said:

“Sinn Fein over the past 13 months worked to restore the institutions on
the basis of respect, integrity and equality for all sections of
society.

“When this latest round of talks was announced in January, I said a
short, sharp and focused negotiation was required to resolve the
outstanding issues of rights and equality available everywhere else in
the islands.

“Sinn Fein engaged, we worked in good faith, we stretched ourselves. We
had reached an accommodation with the leadership of the DUP. The DUP
failed to close the deal. They have now collapsed this process.

“These issues are not going away. Sinn Fein are now in contact with both
governments and we will set out our considered position tomorrow. The
DUP should reflect on their position.”

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